FRAGRANCE | Prada L'Homme EDT: A classy scent for the refined gentleman

halfwhiteboy - Prada L'Homme EDT

Fashion house Prada has arguably perfected its use of iris, creating a clean, powdery-soapy signature that features prominently in a number of their fragrances. Prada L'Homme is probably one of its best examples. It's no surprise therefore that this 2016 release has since spawned a number of flankers. Speaking of which, I like how their bottles allow for a good grip with their graded, curved backside.

A short-lived citrusy sharpness marks the opening, followed by a clean, powdery iris that's practically the hallmark of this fragrance. It's wonderfully airy, wrapping you in a clean and fresh bubble as opposed to the waxy, lipsticky treatment Dior Homme and its flankers prefer. I love both approaches, by the way. 

There's a developing ambery sweetness but its strength is capped at some point before it overwhelms the whole scent. Good call actually. Because sweet notes tend to carry some weight and density, it would run against what Prada was going for here. As the scent progresses, then comes a clean soapiness, which works exquisitely with the overarching powdery atmosphere. The result is a luxurious kind of soapy, supported by a faint woodiness in the background. I also get some lingering spiciness albeit also faded.

Following a moderate start, its strength starts to wane after some two or three hours but the fragrance's characteristic powdery soapiness persists for a couple more. Prada L'Homme is reserved and classy, never obnoxious. It's a versatile frag given its dry but fresh quality. Although intended for gentlemen, its deliberate lack of anything overtly butch makes it something that can easily be worn by the opposite sex. In my opinion, this really is something worth having.

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